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Hearts Apart Christmas helps families smile

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rebekah Phy
  • 305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MCGUIRE AFB, N.J. --  Christmas spirit was in the air as children smiled, giggled and fidgeted in their seats waiting for the big event to begin. They had that somewhat mischievous grin on their faces, and you knew exactly what they were thinking ... it's time for presents!

The McGuire Airman and Family Readiness Center helped put lots of smiles on families' faces during the annual Hearts Apart Christmas Party here recently. Families who have a loved one deployed were able to celebrate the holidays with others in the same situation.

"We know how tough it is to be missing a loved one during the holidays," said Col. Balan Ayyar, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander, during his opening remarks. "We just want you to know you are loved, and we're here for you ... I hope you have an amazing night."

The Hearts Apart program, run by the McGuire AFRC, provides families of deployed Airmen opportunities to get together and share in friendship, said Tech. Sgt. Kevin Casciano, AFRC readiness consultant. Each month, a breakfast or dinner is held for the families. And quarterly, at each gathering, birthdays and anniversaries are also celebrated, with special gifts given to the family members.

Sergeant Casciano, who helped put the Christmas party together, said the best part about Hearts Apart is "helping families."

"There is no better feeling than the feeling you get when you help someone else," he said. "Putting a smile on a child's face is priceless!"

The Hearts Apart Christmas event featured several gift give-aways to participating families, including baskets made and donated by Neshaminy Middle School in Pennsylvania, and two bicycles donated by BAE. A buffet-style Christmas dinner was offered by The Club.

The crowd was all smiles as raffles were held throughout the three-hour event to give out the gifts. Children gathered to help pick the winning numbers and announce it over the microphone. Some were happier to announce the numbers than actually win the prize.

Children also enjoyed several activities offered during the party. A "build-a-bear" workshop was held for children to create their own teddy bears, and an artist was available to make caricatures of the children. At the last minute, after clearing his busy schedule, Santa flew in with gifts for all of the children.

As a long-time participant in the program, Kathy Satterlee said Hearts Apart was a great way to get the kids out, meet other people and have support during such a difficult time. Her husband, Tech. Sgt. DJ Satterlee, 21st Air Mobility Operations Squadron, was away from Kathy and their two children (Veronica, 12, and Jake, 9) for 14 months.

"I came to Hearts Apart because it was a way to count down," Mrs. Satterlee said. "Honestly, I counted down his deployment based on how many Hearts Apart events we had left. I ended up meeting a lot of great people, and it helped the time pass."

Mrs. Satterlee said the Hearts Apart events also helped her family feel a part of the community - "it helped bring us all together, when we were all experiencing the same things," she said.

This Hearts Apart event was extra special, Mrs. Satterlee said. After 14 months of their "hearts being apart," her husband recently returned from his deployment.

"Last year at the Hearts Apart Christmas Party, I was all teary-eyed because it had only been a few months," she said. "This was the first time I got to bring my husband with me to a Hearts Apart event -- and, it was a long time coming."